Deep Impact Mission (Abstract)

Volume 33 number 1 (2005)

Mary Ann Kadooka

Abstract

(Abstract only) The NASA Discovery mission, Deep Impact (DI), has the task of launching a 370-kg copper impactor in December, 2004, which will arrive at comet 9P/Tempel 1 in July 2005. The mission goals are to have the probe intercept the comet to create an impact crater and to dig below the evolved surface materials of this comet. Scientists will study the physics of the crater formation and the composition of the pristine interior of the comet. The comet orbit, the probe trajectory, and other details are featured to demonstrate the scientific challenges of this mission. Comet nuclei plus gas and dust tail images from past missions provide some background information. Professionals, amateurs, and students are being encouraged to participate in the observing campaign before, during, and after the impact to support the DI scientific team. Telescope sizes, sample images for data analysis needed, and the process for participation are described. A table of visibility dates of comet 9P/Tempel 1 is shown. One example given focuses on Hawaii’s students’ use of Faulkes Telescope North at Haleakala Observatory on the island of Maui during the months that the comet is visible. The dynamic nature of the Deep Impact Mission will instill the excitement of 21st Century astronomy in observers worldwide.